The 2026 Matchplay is simply across the nook so here’s the whole thing you wish to have to understand concerning the males’s and ladies’s tournaments, continue to exist Sky Sports activities…
Luke Littler lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy for the primary time three hundred and sixty five days in the past and can start his identify defence in opposition to up-and-comer Niko Springer.
The teenage sensation beat James Wade 18-13 within the last of final 12 months’s match, getting better from 5-0 all the way down to seal a charming comeback victory and turn out to be the 5th participant in historical past to finish the ‘Triple Crown’.
Watch the successful second as Luke Littler sealed his maiden International Matchplay identify with a 18-13 victory over former youngest champion James Wade.
When and the place is the International Matchplay?
The 2026 Betfred International Matchplay will happen from July 18-26 on the iconic Wintry weather Gardens in Blackpool, as a star-studded 32-player box compete for the boosted prize.
Right through the International Matchplay last Luke Littler nearly nailed his 2d nine-darter of the event, as he ignored the 8th dart of the leg.
Prize handbags for the 2026 match were larger to £1m, with the winner set to pocket £225,000.
The primary spherical of the game’s summer time showpiece sees the sector’s most sensible 16 avid gamers seeded and pitted in opposition to the highest 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Ratings.
Who’s participating within the males’s match?
A comparability between Luke Littler’s very best leg and the antique nine-darter made my Michael Smith within the 2023 International Darts Championship.
Littler will take centre level as he seems to be to turn out to be the primary participant since Michael van Gerwen in 2015 to head back-to-back in Blackpool however there are lots of different stars to appear out for.
2024 champion Luke Humphries stars with an enormous conflict in opposition to Cameron Menzies, whilst the likes of Gian van Veen, James Wade, Josh Rock, Gerwyn Value, Michael van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson will even stake their declare.
Highlights of Luke Littler in opposition to Josh Rock within the semi-final of the International Matchplay.
(1) Luke Littler v Niko Springer
(16) Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen
(8) Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse
(9) Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld
(4) Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding
(13) Chris Dobey v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(5) Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta
(12) Gary Anderson v Ryan Joyce
(2) Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies
(15) Ross Smith v Kevin Doets
(7) Gerwyn Value v Martin Schindler
(10) Danny Noppert v Rob Move
(3) Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski
(14) Wessel Nijman v Dave Chisnall
(6) James Wade v Jermaine Wattimena
(11) Ryan Searle v William O’Connor
What’s the layout?
Luke Littler hit a nine-darter throughout his semi-final in opposition to Josh Rock on the International Matchplay.
The International Matchplay is a legs layout, with the collection of legs required to win expanding because the rounds cross on.
Each and every fit will have to be gained by way of two transparent legs, except the rating is tied after the 5th ‘further’ leg at which level unexpected dying takes position.
- Spherical 1: first to ten legs (unexpected dying at 12-12)
- Spherical 2: first to 11 legs (unexpected dying at 13-13)
- Quarter-finals: first to 16 legs (unexpected dying at 18-18)
- Semi-finals: first to 17 legs (unexpected dying at 19-19)
- Ultimate: first to 18 legs (unexpected dying at 20-20)
Who’re the former winners?
Luke Littler stocks his response after successful the International Matchplay identify and changing into the youngest ever champion within the pageant.
The International Matchplay has an extended checklist of stellar winners, with Littler heading into the 2026 event as protecting champion.
The primary winner used to be Larry Butler again in 1994 prior to Phil Taylor then picked up his first win of 16 (sure, 16) in 1995.
Taylor additionally gained the 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017 Matchplays.
Right through his 2002 win, Taylor additionally threw the primary ever televised nine-darter and such dominance ended in the trophy being renamed after him in 2018.
Different winners come with Michael van Gerwen (2015, 2016 and 2022), Gary Anderson (2018), Rob Move (2019), Dimitri Van den Bergh (2020), Peter Wright (2021), Nathan Aspinall (2023), and Luke Humphries (2024).
What’s the prize fund?
- Winner: £225,000
- Runner-up: £125,000
- Semi-finalists: £65,000
- Quarter-finalists: £35,000
- 2nd spherical: £22,500
- First spherical: £12,500
When is the ladies’s International Matchplay?
Highlights of the general of the Girls’s International Matchplay as Lisa Ashton took on Fallon Sherrock.
The 5th staging of the Girls’s International Matchplay will likely be held at the afternoon of Sunday July 26 at Blackpool’s Wintry weather Gardens, continue to exist Sky Sports activities.
8 of the highest girls’s avid gamers on the planet will combat it out to be topped champion as Lisa Ashton seems to be to shield her identify.
Who’s within the girls’s match?
Lisa Ashton beat Beau Greaves within the semi-final of the Girls’s International Matchplay.
Along protecting champion Ashton, there will likely be two-time winner Beau Greaves and 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock, with Gemma Hayter and Vicky Pruim additionally integrated.
Deta Hedman and Rhian O’Sullivan will even function, with Finnish celebrity Kirsi Viinikainen taking the general spot on be offering.
Draw Bracket
(1) Beau Greaves vs (8) Kirsi Viinikainen
(4) Gemma Hayter vs (5) Vicky Pruim
(2) Lisa Ashton vs (7) Rhian O’Sullivan
(3) Fallon Sherrock vs (6) Deta Hedman
Prize Cash
Winner: £15,000
Runner-Up: £8,000
Semi-Finalists: £4,500
Quarter-Finalists: £2,000
General: £40,000
What’s the layout?
Lisa Ashton hit this large 140 end throughout her semi-final in opposition to Beau Greaves on the Girls’s International Matchplay.
The Girls’s International Matchplay could also be a legs layout, with the collection of legs required to win expanding because the rounds cross on.
The Girls’s International Matchplay begins with quarter-finals that are the most productive of 7 legs prior to the semi-finals being competed in a very best of 9 legs layout.
The overall is then the most productive of eleven legs.
When is the International Matchplay continue to exist Sky Sports activities?
The International Matchplay commences on Saturday, July 18 and ends on Sunday, July 26.
All 9 days of the development will likely be proven continue to exist Sky Sports activities, with protection of the outlet day starting off on Sky Sports activities+ at 7pm Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW
